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Abia State governorship candidate of the Action People’s Party (APP), General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (retd), has unveiled his 23-agenda manifesto with a promise to turn Abia into a modern state if elected governor in 2027.
General Ijioma (retd), who flagged off his campaign penultimate week, at Umuhu-Ezechi, in Bende Local Government Area, made the promise in Aba, in continuation of his campaign and the flag off campaign of Dr. Dick-Orieh Elendu (Ebekuo Dike), the Aba Central State House of Assembly candidate.
Addressing a mammoth crowd that defied a downpour to welcome him, the APP governorship candidate assured the people that the rule of law, justice, and equity for humanity will remain the cardinal pillars of his administration.
He said that the turning of Abia into a modern state will begin with the transformation of Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia to 21st Century cities.
To achieve this, he announced a phased programme to implement his plan, saying that N200 billion would be set aside each for Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.
He promised that part of the money for Aba would be devoted to constructing a minimum of four fly over bridges, opening up boating services at Azumini to connect the open sea which he noted was just about 12 nautical miles (15-18km) from the Azumini community.
“The rest of the money would go into infrastructure/facility, including underground drainage to address the perennial problem of flooding in Aba, including the redesign and remodelling of the Epic Ariaria market”.
The APP flag bearer, flanked by his Deputy Governorship candidate, Chief Eze Nwoloki, other APP candidates and state party officials gave the assurance that he was fully prepared for leadership and very determined to govern Abia, adding, “neither rain nor sun can stop me from that set agenda”.
General Ijioma (retd) criticised the Alex Otti administration for financial recklessness and accused him of deceit, lack of transparency, and accountability.
He maintained that the present administration has received huge sums of money running into over a trillion naira from the Federal Government and more than N70 billion from internally generated revenue, but has not much to show for it.
He dubbed the present administration in the state as “a government of error and from error to error”, questioning the cost and implementation of some project/budgetary provisions. He condemned Otti for removing Umuahia from being the constitutional capital and relocating it politically to his home town Nvosi, in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The APP governorship hopeful restated that his choice of a deputy governorship candidate from the oil producing area of Ukwa West was deliberate, to give the area, which he said has been neglected over the years, a sense of belonging.
On agriculture, the APP governorship candidate said his administration will establish 17 large farms in all the local government areas and three state farms in the three Senatorial zones and, in addition, establish commodity outlets where prices of goods will be slashed to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the citizens.
Expressing optimism he will win the election, Ijioma said the ruling party in the state, Labour Party, which he described as structureless, is facing a serious national crisis, saying the larger faction is with Chiefs C. K. Igara and Julius Abure, adding that a vote for LP is a wasted vote. He noted that the Labour Party has two governorship candidates, CK Igara of the Julius Abure faction, and Alex Otti of the Nenadi Usman faction.
He reiterated his resolve to ensure the release of Nnamdi Kanu who, he said, was unjustly convicted, from prison if elected.
